Yukon News Releases
2020 Arctic Winter Games Cancelled
Joint statement from the Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games Host Society, Government of Yukon, City of Whitehorse, and Chief Medical Officer of Health.
The 2020 Arctic Winter Games Host Society, with the support of the Yukon government and the City of Whitehorse, are following a recommendation given by Yukon’s acting Chief Medical Officer of Health to cancel the Whitehorse 2020 Arctic Winter Games.
Sexualized Assault Response Team implemented
The Government of Yukon is proud to officially launch the Sexualized Assault Response Team (SART) initiative.
Victims of sexualized assault now have more services available thanks to this initiative, which offers clients wrap-around emotional, medical and legal support.
Key components of SART include a 24-hour, confidential, toll-free, Yukon-wide support line for all victims of sexualized assault; victim support workers available for after-hours support on weekends; and a roster of on-call physicians specially trained to support victims of sexualized assault.
New leadership for the Yukon Housing Corporation
Premier Sandy Silver announced today that Mary Cameron will be acting president of the Yukon Housing Corporation.
Cameron was appointed following Pamela Hine’s announcement that she is leaving the Corporation to take on a new role at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC). Hine has been with the Government of Yukon since 2007.
Surplus budget supports Yukon families, businesses and communities
Premier and Finance Minister Sandy Silver tabled a surplus budget today in the Legislative Assembly that cuts taxes and invests in communities.
With a $4.1 million surplus, the 2020–21 Budget includes major funding for community infrastructure, housing, health and education.
Yukon to end seasonal time change
The Government of Yukon announced today that Yukon will end the practice of twice annual seasonal time changes. Following a motion brought forward in May 2017 by MLA Paolo Gallina, the government undertook public engagement on the possibility.
After Yukoners adjust their clocks on March 8, the territory will remain on Pacific Daylight Saving Time.
The recent seasonal time change survey drew more than 4,800 responses from Yukon people and organizations, with most in favour of putting an end to the practice.
Yukoners to benefit from improved renal support and care
The Government of Yukon has signed a letter of intent with the BC Renal Agency to maximize opportunities for Yukoners to receive dialysis in Yukon.
This new partnership will increase focus on early intervention and support of independent dialysis options. A primary goal will be to work with patients early in their kidney disease process to help maintain kidney function without requiring dialysis.
Discovery Day to display electric vehicles in Yukon
The Government of Yukon and the Yukon Transportation Museum invite the public to the first Electric Vehicle Discovery Day happening on Sunday, March 8. The event includes a zero-emission car and trade show with local dealerships and local owners putting their electric vehicles on display.
The Yukon Transportation Museum is also unveiling two new exhibits on the history and the future of electric vehicles in the North. The public can interact with zero-emission vehicles and speak to local owners about tips and tricks of owning and operating an electric vehicle in Yukon.
2020 spring sitting of the Yukon Legislative Assembly to begin
The 2020 spring sitting of the 34th Yukon Legislative Assembly will begin at 1 p.m. on Thursday, March 5.
In addition to the 2020-21 Main Estimates, several pieces of legislation will be tabled during the sitting.
Please note that the house will adjourn for the week of March 15 to 21, during which time the 2020 Arctic Winter Games will take place in Whitehorse.
The Legislative Assembly will reconvene on Monday, March 23.
Feedback sought on proposed amendments to the Enduring Power of Attorney Act
The Government of Yukon is inviting input on proposed amendments to the Enduring Power of Attorney Act. An online survey is available on Engage Yukon to seek feedback on the modernization of this Act. The engagement period will run from March 4 to April 22, 2020.
An enduring power of attorney is a legal document in which a person gives one or more trusted people authority to manage their money and property if they become ill or suffer a disability at some point in the future. The “attorney” in this case does not mean the person is a lawyer.
Yukon’s mineral industry promoted on global stage
Yukon’s mineral industry potential and investment opportunities were showcased at the Prospectors and Developers Association of Canada (PDAC) annual conference in Toronto this week. Premier Sandy Silver and Energy, Mines and Resources and Economic Development Minister Ranj Pillai joined a delegation of Yukon government officials and industry leaders to promote the territory as a top-tier, investment-ready jurisdiction with significant mineral potential at what is considered the largest event of its kind worldwide.
Yukon and Quebec governments invest $100,000 to support Yukon’s Francophonie
This is a joint news release with the Government of Quebec.
The Government of Yukon and the Government of Quebec will invest $100,000 towards the Intergovernmental Cooperation Program for 2020–21. The program supports initiatives that promote the vitality of the Yukon Francophonie by strengthening ties between Quebec and Yukon’s Francophone communities.
Government of Yukon launches online water well registry
The Government of Yukon is launching a new water well registry that will allow users to search for water well records across the territory.
The online mapping application allows citizens, governments, researchers and industry to
- see where known wells are located;
- learn about aquifer and groundwater characteristics; and
- generate statistics on well depth, static water level and estimated yield.
The information available from the water well registry will support
Government of Canada supports Government of Yukon’s biomass heating system expansion
Today, Minister of Environment and Climate Change Canada Jonathan Wilkinson was in Whitehorse to celebrate the expansion of Whitehorse Correctional Centre’s biomass heating system with Minister of Highways and Public Works Richard Mostyn. The project draws funding from Canada’s Low Carbon Economy Fund, as biomass is a low-carbon energy source.
Housing First welcomes new residents
Residents are moving in to Yukon’s first-ever Housing First residence on Fifth Avenue as part of a staged occupancy plan that began in mid-February. The plan will see two tenants move in each week until the building is full.
The 16-unit building is the first Housing First project in the territory and signifies the Government of Yukon’s commitment to addressing homelessness and poverty in Yukon.
Government of Yukon releases 2019–20 Performance Plan update
The Government of Yukon has released its 2019–20 Performance Plan update. The report tracks progress in a number of areas such as health, housing, jobs, and reconciliation with First Nations. It provides a 2019 year in review and also a look ahead into 2020 priorities and commitments.
The report is organized into eight themes linked to each of the Government of Yukon’s priorities. It once again features a collection of Canadian Index of Wellbeing indicators for Yukon as well as a set of program and service-specific measures that are tracked across government.
Third Yukon Resource Gateway Project agreement reached
The Government of Yukon and the Ross River Dena Council (RRDC) have reached an agreement in principle for the North Canol Road and Campbell Highway components of the Yukon Resource Gateway Project.
Ross River Dena Council is collaborating with the Government of Yukon on the development, environmental and regulatory aspects of the two road component upgrades. The work will include bridge replacement and safety improvements on North Canol Road and construction and resurfacing of kilometre 354.9 to kilometre 414.4 of the Robert Campbell Highway.
Second wave of seasonal flu hits Yukon
Yukon is seeing increasing numbers of influenza, with 75 cases confirmed in Yukon so far this flu season. In the last five weeks alone, 43 cases of influenza have been confirmed. In addition to the increase in influenza activity, there is also an increase in respiratory illness caused by other viruses.
Local FireSmart Representative workshop empowers Yukoners to increase community wildfire resiliency
Forty-six community leaders from across Yukon have learned how to reduce their community’s wildfire risk at a FireSmart workshop in Whitehorse held on February 26 and 27.
Organized by the Government of Yukon Wildland Fire Management branch, the course taught community leaders how to identify potential wildfire hazards in forested areas, find and support local FireSmart champions and put wildfire hazard reduction plans into action through the government’s FireSmart funding program.
Council of Yukon First Nations and Government of Yukon collaborate on Whitehorse Correctional Centre cultural programming
The Council of Yukon First Nations (CYFN) and the Government of Yukon have jointly developed and implemented Yukon First Nations cultural programming at the Whitehorse Correctional Centre (WCC).
Cultural practices, such as sweat ceremonies and drumming circles, have been incorporated into the correctional centre’s regular operations, along with cultural awareness training for staff, the hiring of a full-time First Nation liaison and a contribution of 30 books with First Nations content to the facility’s library.
Government of Yukon and Corix Water Systems reach settlement agreement
Joint statement between the Government of Yukon and Corix Water Systems
The Government of Yukon and Corix Water Systems have reached an agreement regarding the Dawson City Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The two parties have agreed not to pursue any further legal action on any past, present or future matters relating to the construction contract of the wastewater treatment plant, and the contractual relationship between Corix Water Systems and the Government of Yukon is now over.
